Another Vatican expert, Andrea Tornielli, also detected a "change of language" by the powers at the Vatican, but he noted that doctrinal changes would not be possible before further consultation and another synod next year.
On the controversial topics of homosexuality and divorce, he proposes no doctrinal changes but, as he's done in earlier statements and interviews, urges that the church take a welcoming approach to all — embracing understanding, tolerance and compassion.
His deliberate demystification of the papacy, his digressive interviews with outlets secular and religious, his calls for experimentation within the church and his softer tone on the issues — abortion, gay marriage — where traditional religion and the culture are in sharpest conflict: these are not doctrinal changes, but they are clear strategic shifts.
But in fact the Church has made profound doctrinal changes in living memory.
Part of the explanation is due, perhaps, to a gradual waning of Aristotle's influence, but part of it is also due to substantive doctrinal changes.
The doctrinal changes in the church occurred gradually, but by 1994, most of the concepts of Armstrongism had been largely modified or discontinued.
"A Pope, by his nature, can't make doctrinal changes," Dolan said on NBC's "Meet the Press".
But there is also considerable prudence in "The Joy of the Gospel;" on the surface, it does not appear to contain major doctrinal changes.
The executive committees of the Texas and Virginia state Baptist conventions have rejected the national group's latest doctrinal changes, officials with the national convention said.
The fact that his "Joy of the Gospel" contains few doctrinal changes does not mean, according to Tornielli, they may not be coming: "Given the things he has said about decentralization, it would be against that spirit of collegiality for him to announce major changes in doctrine all by himself.
